The cause of this deposit of valuables was simply owing to the unstable
lock of my trunk, the condition of which was detected too late to have
it repaired before sailing. Madame Curzon had suggested to me the unsafe
nature of such custody for objects of price, if, indeed, I possessed
such at all. I told her then of my diamonds, and it was agreed between
us that these, at least, had better be deposited in the bank of her
husband, who would bring them to me himself a few months later--and on
reflection I concluded to add my desk, pictures, and papers, to _my_
more substantial treasures. These, at least, I felt assured no accident
should throw into the hands of Bainrothe.

On my way to the ship I left the carriage for a moment, in pursuance
with this idea, and, followed by King, the bearer of my large and
weighty desk, entered the banking-house of my host, and was shown at
once, by attentive clerks, to his peculiar sanctum. I told him my errand
in a few words.

"Keep it until called for, unless you hear from me in the interval," I
had said in allusion to my deposit, for he acknowledged the chances were
slight of his leaving home until the following year, notwithstanding
Madame Curzon's convictions.

"Called for by whom?" he asked, calmly.

"By Miriam Monfort in person or her order," I replied, laughingly, "This
is a mystery that, by-and-by, shall be explained to you."

"I understand something of that already," he rejoined. "Marion has been
whispering to the reeds, you know, or Madame Curzon, the same thing